World Bank Approves $1 billion to Support Free Primary Education, Maternal and Child Health Improvements in the DRC

On Tuesday, the World Bank said it had approved $1 billion in funding for Democratic Republic of Congo’s education and health systems that have been weakened by years of under-funding, conflict and mismanagement.

This financing includes $800 million for the Emergency Equity and System Strengthening in Education Project (EESSE) and $200 million in additional financing for the Health System Strengthening for Better Maternal and Child Health Results Project (PDSS).

“By supporting free primary education and improving maternal and child health in the country’s poorest provinces, the two projects will help protect the most vulnerable population access basic services,” notes Jean-Christophe Carret, World Bank Country Director for the Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Central African Republic and Burundi. “This funding is all the more important because it will help alleviate the economic and social consequences of the coronavirus affecting the poorest.”